Hinge and braking device for stationary rowing exercising apparatuses



HINGE AND BRAKING DEVICE FOR STATIONARY ROWING EXERCISING APPARATUSES Filed Sept. 11, 1964 April 25, 1957 G. CARNIELLI 3,315,959

United States Patent Office 3,315,959 Patented Apr... 25, 1967 3,315,959 HINGE AND BRAKING DEVICE FOR STATIONARY ROWING EXERCISING APPARATUSES Guido Carnielli, 28 Piazza Luigi tli Savoia, Milan, Italy Filed Sept. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 395,761 3 Claims. in. 272-72 This invention relates to devices designed to hingedly connect structural components adapted for relative rotational reciprocation and for imparting a frictional resistance to the rotational motion imparted to one of said components during said reciprocation in one direction thereof. More particularly, this invention relates to devices designed for so connecting the handle bars or levers of stationary rowing exercising apparatuses to stationary braces appertaining to the frame structure or similar body exercising, training and conditioning devices of the type including at least two relatively rotable components at least one of which is adapted to be reciprocated with respect to the other, upon exerting a given physical effort.

For purposes of simplicity, the novel device of this invention will be described in terms of a stationary rowing exercising apparatus, the preferred embodiment; however, it is not intended that this invention be so limited.

It is known to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains that such hinge and braking devices may be assumed as being of two general types. One type includes hydraulic means for adjustably braking the reciprocation, while the other type includes frictional braking means. While devices of said first type are considered as preferable, their noticeable costs, weight and bulk and other factors (such devices require maintenance and careful adjustment, and sometimes leaks of oily matter occur) make such devices inconvenient particularly in apparatuses for home use. Conventionally manufactured frictional devices are generally objectionable as being unable to withstand hard and extended service and to give a uniform, well adjusted frictional resistance.

It is an object of this invention to provide a low cost but quite eiiicient hinge and braking device of the type including frictionally operating components, which is not subject to the above and other objections.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved device as above, notable for its structural simplicity and sturdy construction which make maintenance unnecessary even if the apparatus is severly used.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device as above, that is notable for its arrangement of parts including a number of frictionally abutting ring-shaped surfaces adapted to ensure a smooth, uniform and carefully adjustable frictional resistance.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved device as above, that is notable for its arrangement of components into a simple assembly which may be readily disassembled and reassembled without requiring any tool and by unskilled persons.

Broadly, according to the invention, the new device of the invention comprises a first lower disk-like component adapted to be tiitingly but not rotatably connected to a stationary brace of the structure of the apparatus, and having an upwardly protruding shaft of non-circular cross-section axially arranged and fixedly secured thereto, a second disk-like component slidably but not rotatably fitted about said shaft, a third disk-like component slidably and rotatably fitted about said shaft between said first and second components, two flat ringshaped friction members of leather or other suitable ma terial, adapted to provide a frictional resistance in engagement with smooth metallic surfaces, arranged between said first and third and respectively said second and third of such apparatuses,

component, means for adjustably sequeezing said components and members together, and an arm member connected for rotation about said shaft and adapted for having one handle bar or lever of the exercising apparatus secured thereto, a ring of saw-teeth formed about the periphery of said third disk-like component, and a pawl member connected to said arm member and positioned to engage said teeth as said handle bar is rotated in one direction about the axis defined by said shaft, whereby a frictional resistance is encountered as said third component is caused to rotate between said other components and friction members.

Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent, to those skilled in the art, from the following detailed description and the attached drawing on which, by way of example, only one preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated. In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational sectional view of the device, taken along its plane of symmetry containing the axes of said shaft and of said handle bar, certain components being partly shown in side view;

FIGURE 2 illustrates a detail including the ratchet, as shown in the direction indicated at 22 in FIGURE 3, which is an exploded view of the device of FIG. 1, and wherein the several components, in part fragmentarily shown, are illustrated partly in diametral section and partly in side elevation.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts and components throughout the several figures:

The device includes a first and base disk-shaped component, preferably of punched sheet steel, indicated at 10, having a reinforcing rib thereabout and having two diametrically opposed and symmetrically formed wings 12 integrally formed therewith. Said wings 12 are co-axially bored at 11 for tiltingly connecting the device, according to the art, to the upper outer end portion of a stationary brace 13 (fragmentarily shown in FIG. 1) of the stationary rowing exercising apparatus. Therefore, said component cannot be rotated about its axis relatively to the structure of the apparatus.

An upwardly extended shaft 15 is integrally formed with or fixedly secured to said first component It) in the axis thereof, and has an upper threaded extension 16. Such shaft 15 defines the axis about which the rotary reciprocable parts, namely the handle bar or lever 14 (fragmentarily shown in FIGS. 1 and 3) may be rotated during exercising. Said shaft 15 has a non-circular crosssectional shape. It may be of hexagonal section (as shown) or provided with longitudinal groovings or flat side portions, or be otherwise machined so that a second disk-like component, such as at 31, provided with an axial bore 33, may longitudinally slide along and about said shaft while being non-rotatable with respect thereto. Therefore, the said first and second disk-shaped components 10 and 31 and said shaft 15 embody, in the device, the stationary assembly thereof as opposed to the reciprocable handle bar of the apparatus.

The rotatable component of the device consists of a third disk-like component 19 having a circular bore at 20 and arranged for free rotation about said shaft 15.

Such third component 19 is assembled in the device between said first and second components and 31, respectively, and flat ring-shaped friction members 2 8 and 29 are located between said third and second components 19 and 31 and, respectively, between said third and first components 19 and 10. Said members are made of leather or other suitable material adapted to provide a frictional resistance when it is rubbingly displaced on a smooth metallic surface. The several superimposed disk-shaped and annular components and members 31,

28, 19, 29 and are axially pressed together by a pressing and adjusting knob 18 having a threaded bore at 17 which threadedly engages said threaded extension 16 of shaft 15, through the intermediary of a sleeve 27 having an outer cylindrical surface and being slidably fitted about shaft above the second component 31. Such sleeve 27 abuts at its upper end on the lower face of knob 18 and, at its lower end, on the upper face of second component 31. By turning the knob 18 and thereby displacing the extension 16 more or less deeply thereinto, the pressure applied on and between the described components and members may be carefully adjusted,

The above assembly and arrangement of parts is in particular noted by the fact that it includes four pairs of co-abutting surfaces at which a proper frictional resistance may be obtained, i.e. the four abutments of face 30 of second component 31 and of upper face 34 of third component 19 on the upper and respectively on lower face of ring member 28, and of lower face 35 of said third component and of upper face 32 of first component 1s on the upper and respectively on the lower face of ring member 29. Therefore, during operation of the apparatus as the said third component 19 is rotated about shaft 15, a friction will occur at least between two pairs of coabutting faces.

The said assembly is further noted by the fact that said frictional surfaces are limited to annular areas, as defined by upper and lower faces of member 28 and 29, corresponding to the outermost portions of the said components 10', 19 and 31. Such feature ensures that, while the device may be constructed of relatively small diameter, the relative linear speed of the relatively movable frictionally engaging portions is quite great, thus ensuring a smooth and uniform frictional resistance. The above noted multiplicity of co-abutting frictional surfaces makes it possible to confine such surface areas to the said annular portions.

The handle bar or lever on the apparatus is assumed to be an extension of part 14, which is journalled to the device, for rotation about shaft 15, by means of a hub 26 which is secured to said part '14- via a curved brace 25. Said hub 26 is rotatably fitted about the cylindrical outer surface of sleeve 27, and is axially slightly shorter than the latter so that the pressure exerted between knob 18 and second component 31 does not disturb the free rotation of said hub and of the handle bar about the stationary components of the device.

The said third component 19 has an up-turned upper rib 21 integrally formed therewith and provided with a saw-toothed upper edge, adapted to be engaged, in one direction, by the free end 22 of a pawl 23 journalled about a pin 24 connected to said part 14 and positioned aside said brace 25 (FIG. 3). Therefore, upon rotation in one given direction of the handle bar or lever of the apparatus, together with part 14, the said third component 19 is caused to rotate with respect to first and second components 10 and 31, providing the desired frictional resistance, as adjusted upon operation of the knob 18.

The said assembly is still further noted by the fact that all the various components and members, .co-axially arranged about shaft 15, may be disassembled and taken apart simply by un-screwing knob 18 from the threaded extension 16 of said shaft, and may just as readily be reassembled. Such feature leads to an extremely simple maintenance of the device, for cleaning purposes and for replacement of worn parts, namely of friction rings 28 and 29, when required.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to specific details of one preferred embodiment thereof, it is not intended that such details be limitations upon the scope of the invention except insofar as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising support means including a stationary shaft defining an axis of rotation; a pair of coaxial disk members carried by said shaft, one of said disk members being rigid with said shaft and the other being axially movable thereon; a rotary member carried by said shaft coaxial with and sandwiched between said disk members for rotation about said shaft; friction-promoting means interposed between and frictionally engaging the respective members; compression means carried by said shaft and including a sleeve surrounding a portion of the shaft and being arranged for axial movement thereon so as to engage and selectively axially deflect said other disk member in direction toward said one disk member for increasing frictional contact between said friction-promoting means and the respective members; actuating means, including a handle arranged for angular displacement relative to said shaft and a hub rigid with said handle and surrounding said sleeve freely rotatable relative thereto; and cooperating pawl and. ratchet means provided on said handle and said rotary member, respectively, and arranged for turning said rotary member relative to said disk members in response to angular displacement of said handle with reference to said shaft.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said frictionpromoting means comprises a pair of annular elements disposed between said rotary member and the respective disk member.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said ratchet means comprises an annulus of teeth provided on a peripheral edge portion of said rotary member, and wherein said pawl is journalled to said handle for step-wise engagement with successive ones of said teeth.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS MILTON KAUFMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, COMPRISING SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING A STATIONARY SHAFT DEFINING AN AXIS OF ROTATION; A PAIR OF COAXIALDISK MEMBERS CARRIED BY SAID SHAFT, ONE OF SAID DISK MEMBERS BEING RIGID WITH SAID SHAFT AND THE OTHER BEING AXIALLY MOVABLE THEREON; A ROTARY MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID SHAFT COAXIAL WITH AND SANDWICHED BETWEEN SAID DISK MEMBERS FOR ROTATION ABOUT SAID SHAFT; FRICTION-PROMOTING MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN AND FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING THE RESPECTIVE MEMBERS; COMPRESSION MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SHAFT AND INCLUDING A SLEEVE SURROUNDING A PORTION OF THE SHAFT AND BEING ARRANGED FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT THEREON SO AS TO ENGAGE AND SELECTIVELY AXIALLY DEFLECT SAID OTHER DISK MEMBER IN DIRECTION TOWARD SAID ONE DISK MEMBER FOR INCREASING FRICTIONAL CONTACT BETWEEN SAID FRICTION-PROMOTING MEANS AND THE RESPECTIVE MEMBERS; ACTUATING MEANS, INCLUDING A HANDLE ARRANGED FOR ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID SHAFT AND A HUB 